Community Health First Budget Response

MORE INVESTMENT NEEDED IN COMMUNITY HEALTH TO KEEP VICTORIANS OUT OF HOSPITAL

Community Health First welcomes an additional investment of $11 billion in our healthcare system over the next four years and acknowledges that the Community Health program funding
has not been cut.

However, most of the new investment – over $8 billion – will be used to increase funding to our hospitals rather than addressing the underlying causes of our unsustainable healthcare
system.

This budget is a missed opportunity to increase investment in preventative and accessible healthcare to keep all Victorians healthy, well and out of hospital. The more we invest in
prevention, the healthier our communities become and the less we will need to rely on costly ambulance, emergency, and hospital services.

Community Health services have had no increase in funding over many years, despite record population growth and cost-of-living pressures putting healthcare out of the reach of many
Victorians. Today’s budget does nothing to address this challenge and improve access to community-based healthcare for Victorians.

Following today’s budget Community Health First will renew our calls on Government to invest in ensuring all Victorians have access to the quality healthcare they need, when and where
they need it.

Anna Robinson, Chair, Community Health First
“At a time when many families are struggling with the cost-of-living, increased investment is
needed in Victoria’s community health sector to ensure every person can access the
healthcare they need, close to home”.

“Despite investment in Victorian hospitals, today’s Budget fails to address the underlying
causes of our unsustainable healthcare system by failing to invest in proven prevention
programs delivered by community health services”.

About Community Health First
Community Health First is an initiative of all 24 registered, independent community health services in Victoria including Bellarine Community Health. Registered community health services operate across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria, operating out of more than 190 sites across Victoria, and supporting hundreds of thousands of Victorians right around the state.

You can learn more about Community Health First HERE.

Community Health First Budget Response